"Seriously? That's so exciting! I can't believe you didn't tell me."
"We haven't told anyone yet, so you're actually the first to know. But don't tell anyone else, especially not Scott's family."
"Why not?"
"Well, everyone is so excited about Debbie's first pregnancy, and she has waited so long to have a baby, I didn't want to steal any of the attention."
"How far along are you? How long do you plan to hide it?"
"I'm three weeks behind Debbie. We plan to announce it next week on Alice's birthday."
"I'm so excited for you!" Eden squealed.
Her stomach did that funny clenching thing that it did when she heard Debbie was pregnant. The same powerful thing it did when she tended Debbie's kids for two days. The wave of longing that hit her made her nauseous and lightheaded.
She braced herself against the bathroom counter and stared at her reflection.
My biological clock is not ticking! I'm just disappointed Kennedy and I won't be raising babies together, that’s all. I have plenty of years to have children.
After ending the call, she finished her braid and left the bathroom to finish getting ready.
Scott was good with his nieces and nephews, but Eden had a hard time picturing him as a dad. Rudy on the other hand, would be a great dad. He was great with kids of all ages. And he took such good care of her when she was sick.
Memories of him pulling her hair back into a ponytail and wiping her neck with a cool cloth filled her head. Every time she rushed to the bathroom to vomit, he joined her, patiently waiting to see if she needed anything. And every time, embarrassment—that he'd once again seen her at her worst—filled her. But he was so kind and gentle in helping her back to bed that she could only be grateful. In fact, she recalled him carrying her to her bed that last time.
Yes, he'd make a good dad, but...did he want kids?
* * *
Rudy killedthe engine of his dad's fishing boat in their favorite fishing spot; a little alcove near the bend, just before the lake opened wider on the north end. Although there were several boats out on the lake today, nobody else fished in this alcove. Which was perfect because he liked the idea of having Eden all to himself.
"Why are we doing this again?" she asked.
Rudy studied her. She looked very stylish in bib overall shorts with a pink tank top and a white, long-sleeved shirt tied around her waist. If it wasn't for his mom's big, floppy brimmed hat on her head, she'd look like a model sitting there on the little bench.
"We're here because my dad insisted we couldn't miss our annual fishing trip. Even though he's laid up, the tradition must go on." Rudy held up a finger and mimicked his dad.
"I still think you and Scott should have gone by yourselves."
"Yeah, but he felt like he needed to stay with Kennedy while she wasn’t feeling well."
A secretive smile covered Eden's face, but before he could question what it meant, she pointed a finger at him. "This makes us even. You helped me with my dad, now I'm helping you with yours.
"That's the only reason you came fishing with me? To please my dad?"
"That and to work on my tan." She gave a casual shrug.
"And here I thought you came because you overheard my mom telling me a day out on the lake with just the two of us would be romantic."
"I came because I heard her say she packed some of her homemade cream puffs and chocolate éclairs." Eden eyed the cooler behind him.
Rudy laughed and rolled his eyes. He pulled the fishing poles from their storage compartments and handed one to her.
She took it with two fingers and held it at arm’s length.
"It's not going to bite you. It doesn't even have a hook on it yet."
"But I don't know what to do with it. I've never, and I meannever, been fishing before."
